I'm so lopsided!!

[SuzieP]

For one reason or another I haven't been able to have my riding lessons for a few weeks - and had my first one for a while on Saturday. It really hit me how difficult I find it riding on the left rein. I feel uncomfortable and twisted in the saddle. Apparently I lead with my left shoulder on circles and sit to the outside. I tried to correct myself and it just felt really, really strange and unbalanced and I couldn't maintain the position at all.

I need to rebalance and build up the left side of my body - it's the side with the dikkihip which is probably why I favour my right side more than a right-handed person normally would.

Any ideas anyone?

[mickey]

Im not sure on ideas Sue, but which is Bea's best rein? I had a lesson on Yeti 2 weeks ago and he noticed straight away Yeti wasn't as good on the right rein and I found it uncomfortable. I often find my hip and leg moving forward as well on that rein. Im going to try and build Yeti up and see if that helps.

[harveydales]

I'm the same Sue, I deffinatley tend to do similar on the left rein unless I've been working hard at correcting it. I've found the only thing that really helps me is riding in a school with lots of big mirrors so you can see exactly what you are doing - that's one reason I like going to Sheepgate! Maybe Bea is also stiff to this rein and so throws you to the outside - a sort of chicken and egg thing and it has to be down to the rider to break. Harvey is the same so I expect you will feel the same on him on Sunday!

Edited to say my left ankle is also the "dickie" one and my left hip is always slightly numb so I guess we have similar problems!

[nars]

I know where you're coming from on this one Sue. I have a sim,ilar problem due to my damaged hip. I've spent the last 12mths working on a range of core stability exercises and my physio gives me regular treatment to ensure my SI joints are equal on both sides. Both those things together really do help.

I'm finding it asier to ride in my WOW as the bulk of a normal saddle meant I had to squeeze so hard in transitions etc, it rotated me out of position automatically. This is now much less of a problem, but I've still a long way to go.

[SuzieP]

Bea's not as balanced on the left rein, so we're not helping each other really. I've noticed out hacking that he "throws" me onto the right diagonal when we're trotting and if I change diagonal it feels less comfortable. Gill (RI) is aware of it and tells me when I'm getting lopsided, which is a big help.

A young lass rode Bea the other week and got him going beautifully on the left rein - no falling in, lovely slow, balanced canter on circles etc...just the same as on the right rein. She's a lovely rider, so balanced and still in the saddle. Sigh - I wish I could ride like that!! So, I know he can do it, he just need me to help him.

[lucydales]

Which cheek was bigger, Sue........?!!!!!!!!!
Sorry, as usual, nothing useful to add!
Lx
PS I know what you mean when someone else gets on and achieves all the things out can't! Story of my life! LOL!

[greydales]

All I can say Sue is you are not alone!!!! I am dreadfully lopsided and have got worse over the years as I am just stiffening up and becoming less supple. My left hip is shortened and it makes my right shoulder higher than my left! I can feel it more and more and I do try to compensate but am still much less supple to the right and I don't suppose it will ever be 100%. This will inevitably affect the horse/pony I am riding and right canter is always harder to achieve on the correct lead than the left as my right leg is quite weak.

When I've had lessons (and I haven't had many of those recently!) I am always being told to take my right shoulder back, and when I do it feels really odd and unbalanced. I just kind of accept it as a hazard of getting older and stiffer and think you have to work harder to be balanced ..

Horses and ponies also have a weaker side and if this coincides with yours it doesn't help matters!

[SuzieP]

LOL Luce - the left one! Everything down my left side is collapsing faster than on the right.....one of the (many) drawbacks of getting older!!!

If I could only find a round hula hoop I'd give that a go and try and muscle up.....

[harveydales]

LOL! It's my left side collapsing too! I suppose it is to do with being right handed and so over developing the right side with all the physical stuff we do.

I had this discussion with Irene some weeks ago and we came to the conclusion that left handed people are more evenly balanced because most things are geered towards right handed people so the lefties tend to have to work both right and left sides while we righties can be lazy and only work the right side. That sounds a bit muddled but you know what I mean!

I better find a hula hoop..........

[greydales]

Don't worry I am going to be bringing mine next weekend .. still can't do it!!!

[AliandDolly]

oh gill if i can do it ill have a go if you bring it but i couldnt do it when i was younger

alixx

[jec248]

Last summer my saddle slipped to the right. I thought that perhaps it had a twisted tree and decided to buy another saddle. When the saddle fitter came she stood on a stool at the ponys tail and when looked down at her back and noticed that her left side was slightly higher than the right side. I bought a Heather Moffett treeless saddle and it appears that both sides of the back are now almost the same, ( I also had a 'Back man' out) yet I still feel that my right stirrup is slightly longer than the left one. Therefor it must be me who is lopsided although I don't feel it. Plan to do some exercises to sort the problem out and start riding lessons again. I think I need to go somewhere and have lessons on a different horse so I can work on my position. What I could really do with is going to Devon on holiday and visiting Heather Moffett for lessons!!!!